Healthier Peanut Butter Granola

So it was recently brought to my attention that we are now in the month of May, and as such it is time for us to start focusing on a little thing that we women dread hearing about – that’s right, I am talking about beach body season (insert eye roll and exasperated sigh here.) Mhmmm, beach body season… aka the bane of my existence.

This is the time of year where my serious neglect of ab work during my winter work out routine comes back to bite me in the ass! Not to mention I took full advantage of the fact that thick oversized sweaters were totally in this year to hide my mid section all winter long, and subsequently I may have been a little (a lot) extra lenient when it came to my abdominal situation this year… can anybody else relate to this oversized sweater fashion induced extra tummy weight??? If you answered yes to this question, first I give you a virtual high five – high ya! – we are in this together! And second, below is a recipe for the perfect healthy, yet totally delicious snack, to help you kick start your 2015 beach body diet! We got this!

So because I am a self aware, peanut butter addict and I can’t get through a day without a peanut butter fix in some shape or form, I decided that the best thing for me to do to get my but in gear for bikini season would be to create a healthier way to enjoy peanut butter- that is, as opposed to just spooning it straight from the jar 😀 Thus, the recipe for this peanut butter granola was born!
Seriously not only is the peanut butter granola deliciously addicting, but it is also packing some seriously healthy ingredients that have been credited with aiding weight loss. Now even though I made a couple of extra additions to this granola, I guarantee you they don’t change the fact that this granola is absolutely to die for – in fact, you probably won’t even notice they are there! Muahaha! You know me – I love, a good hidden and secretly healthy addition to a recipe!

The first healthy addition to this recipe was the very small, yet amazing…. Chia Seeds! Yes! Even though Chia Seeds are small, they are absolutely chock full of fibre, protein, omega 3’s, antioxidants and so much more! If you haven’t already been educated about the benefits of eating a little helping of chia seeds everyday, then please let me be the first to tell you that they are one of the best things that you can put in your body!

Not to mention, in terms of them being able to help you out in your fight to work on your summer beach bod’, these little seeds can help you out! Because Chia Seeds are so high in fibre, when they come into contact with liquid they basically absorb and expand into a much larger mass, and this is exactly what happens when you are digesting them in your stomach, which has been said to reduce appetite because it leaves you feeling fuller. In addition, the high protein content in chia seeds can help you reach your beach body goals by curbing your worst food cravings! Pretty cool huh? These are just a few of the wonders of the magnificent Chia Seeds, and the reason why I wanted to include them in this recipe!

My next healthy addition to this granola was through the use of another tiny, yet amazing seed. That’s right – I am talking about flax seeds! Flax seeds are another gem that are loaded with fibre, antioxidants and omega 3’s. They also get a lot of hype for being a great way to lower your risk for cardiovascular and lung disease. So not only are they beneficial for your beach bod’ but they are beneficial for your overall health. Definitely the perfect ingredient to add to your diet!

So by adding these tiny little seeds, which let’s face it, you won’t even notice as your eating the granola – I was able to up the health and weight loss benefits of this granola big time! So if you are looking for a healthy snack that will satisfy your peanut butter cravings – you have to give this recipe a try!

How to make…
Preheat oven to 325 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together peanut butter, maple syrup, honey, vanilla and cinnamon, mixing until smooth and fluid. Stir in sea salt, chia and flax seeds until evenly distributed. Add in the rolled oats and roasted peanuts and stir gently to combine, mixing until all dry ingredients are evenly coated.

Spread granola out on to the prepared baking sheet, and press lightly into the pan. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until golden. Your granola may feel and appear soft – this is ok! Once the granola cools it will have its characteristically crunchy texture! **Keep a close eye on your granola during the last 5-10 minutes of baking as granola tends to burn very quickly.

In order to ensure your granola is evenly baked, be sure to gently stir it every 10 minutes bringing the granola that is at the outer edges of the pan into the center to ensure the granola on the outside does not cook faster than the rest and subsequently burn.

Once cooked, remove from the oven and gently life the parchment paper and granola off of the pan and set on a cooling rack to cool completely.

Ta daaaa!!!

Now you have an amazingly healthy recipe to add to your list of healthy snacks that will help you reach your beach body goals this year! Like I said – we are in this together ladies so I would love to hear what you think of this recipe when you give it a try! And, if you have any suggestions for your favourite healthy and delicious snacks for me to try, I am all ears!